Students Apply Analytics Skills at the 2025 Google Hackathon

2025 Google Hackathon

Students at Google Hackathon

2025 Google Hackathon: Master of Analytics Students Showcase Their Skills

Master of Analytics students recently put their skills to the test at the 2025 Google Hackathon, collaborating in teams to solve complex, real-world business challenges using messy, ambiguous data. The event encouraged students to move beyond mere analysis, pushing them to deliver actionable insights and compelling data-driven stories that could inform business decisions.

Diana Chavez, Director of Career Services and organizer of the event, described the hackathon as a forum that “brought students together to tackle a data-driven business challenge using real-world datasets, encouraging analytical thinking, collaboration, and practical problem-solving.” Students were tasked with analyzing Google-provided data to uncover insights and craft actionable recommendations aligned with specific business objectives. According to Chavez, “the presentations stood out, as teams clearly translated complex analyses into compelling, business-focused recommendations.” Approximately 25 teams and 97 students participated.

Judges Jiaxi Zhu and Nagui Yassa praised students for navigating ambiguous datasets and delivering actionable insights. Zhu noted students showed “excellent creativity and judgment,” while emphasizing the importance of framing the right problem and telling a compelling story.

Yassa highlighted the balance between technical analysis and communication, noting that the strongest teams translated insights into clear, actionable strategies understandable to stakeholders.

The hackathon reinforced that analytics is not just about data, but about storytelling and decision-making. As Chavez summarized, “Data analytics isn’t just about the data—it’s about telling a clear story that drives better decisions.”